Yreka High alumni and city residents showed up in force on Friday to support the Miners during their homecoming game against the Klamath Union Pelicans with the varsity game resulting in a win over the Klamath Union Pelicans, 49-27.

To psyche the community for the big game, the Associate Student Body (ASB) geared the focus of pregame events to "Celebrate the Tradition." As Gabbi Atos, ASB president, said, "We're looking to get the community and high school together."

After a week of celebratory games and events, Yreka High kicked off the big day with the traditional homecoming parade.

In a tweak of that tradition, the parade route was reversed this year. Carla Truttman, Yreka High School activities director, said the change was designed to give the students at Evergreen and Jackson Street schools a chance to enjoy the parade before the school bells released them upon the unsuspecting weekend.

And see it they did.

A panoply of red, gold and black, the Yreka High Marching Band lead the way with banners and brass. The homecoming court and its entourage came next: princesses Dakota Cash, Rachel Wily, Hayley Wilson, Ashley Ensminger and Amber Andrighetto; and princes Max Bakes, Kaden Culp, Curt Bennett, Roberto Ochoa and Trystan Howard.

Honorary court members included the high school's foreign exchange students: Annie Sun from China, Clara Frenay from Belgium, Lennart Ebert from Germany and Tobias Hartmann from Denmark.

The swim team, cheerleaders, football teams, cross country team and miner mascot followed, tossing treats to the excited children amassed outside Jackson Street School. Those worried about the litter needn't, as ravenous locusts would stand agape at the speed those kids cleared the candied sidewalks.

The various school organizations traveled on floats depicting miners standing triumphantly over bloody, bruised and creatively maimed pelicans in colorful displays of old-fashioned American sportsmanship.

The parade continued down Broadway Street and up Miner Street where many of the businesses had decorated their storefront windows in support of the Miners.

Another new addition to this year's proceedings was the creation of a tailgating lot to provide hungry Miner fans the chance to cook out and pal around in anticipation for the game.

Unfortunately, the rainy day projected for Saturday put in an early appearance during the junior varsity game, dampening barbecue flames if not fan spirits.

During the pregame show, Yreka High football alumni spanning several generations of Miners served as the entrance tunnel for this year's varity team.

By the time the varsity game began, the drizzle became a steady downpour that left players on the field and fans in the stands fairly soaked. Umbrellas, hoodies, and other bits of rain gear were out in full force.

Halftime saw the induction of the homecoming king and queen.

Page 2 of 2 - The Yreka High homecoming queen was Ashley Ensminger, who was not in attendance. A member of the Lady Miners' volleyball team, her majesty traveled to Red Bluff with her squad mates for a tournament.

Kaden Culp was named the homecoming king, accepting his crown while balancing on crutches. The starting signal caller for the Miners football squad, he suffered a torn ACL before the start of the season and is out for its remainder.

"It's fun," Culp said. "But I wish I was on the field playing."

While "bittersweet," Culp said he was proud to be crowned king and said it was something positive to enjoy during a tough time for him.

After the game, his excited teammates congratulated him, one even bowing in front of the newly minted royal as Culp laughed at his friend's antics.

While the homecoming games' weather was less than perfect, the outcome certainly was.

The good-sized crowd cheered the varsity team to victory over the Pelicans, 49-27.

Full coverage of the game itself can be found in the sport's section today.

"We had an extraordinary week at YHS during this year's homecoming, Truttman said, "What made it particularly amazing was how people came together to make everything happen.

"This year's homecoming made it very clear that the community spirit, as well as the Miner Spirit, is alive and well throughout the Yreka High School community."